TOPSHAM

The School Administrative District 75 school board has adopted a new policy regarding extracurricular activity participation by charter school students within the district in a decision that was far from unanimous.

The policy was passed with an amendment that added two clarifying statements to the language that doesn’t change the intent or impact of the policy. The policy will only allow charter school students to try out for sports if there aren’t enough SAD 75 students trying out to fill the slots needed for a viable team.

There was only one comment from a board member after Policy Committee Chairwoman Linda Hall presented the proposal for a first reading at a June 25 board meeting.

At its next meeting July 9, however, there was significant discussion and policy committee member Scott McKernan read what he referred to as a “minority report” on behalf of himself and fellow committee member Matt Drewett-Card, said Superintendent Brad Smith.

Hall said on June 25 that the Policy Committee generally favors a policy through which SAD 75 students would not be bumped from a sport by a non-SAD 75 student as a result of tryouts.

“If we determine that there is capacity, then, by our definition of capacity, (charter school students) can try out,” Hall had said.

There are eight requirements in the policy that must be met for a charter school student to try out for an activity. Among those, the superintendent will determine whether there is capacity for the student to participate in the extracurricular or interscholastic activity.

On Thursday, the board added a sentence to the policy: “It is the board’s intention to include charter school students in these activities when there is capacity to do so,” Smith said, like for sports that don’t have a membership limit such as track and field.

John D’Anieri, head of Harpswell Coastal Academy, argued in a June 24 letter that the policy would violate the letter and spirit of the state’s charter school statute.

There was no comment from the public on the policy during the board meeting July 9. Smith said he alerted HCA officials of the board meeting Thursday and sent a response to D’Anieri’s assertion that he knew what the Legislature’s intent was regarding the charter school law.

The district’s research shows it wasn’t the Legislature’s intent for charter school students to be considered the same as home school and private school students, Smith said, and while the district and its attorney has asked the Maine Department of Education several questions about the charter school law, both “failed to receive response to those questions.”

The vote was 8-2 in favor of the policy. McKernan and Julie Booty opposed the policy and board member Jeffrey Wolkens abstained. Board members Matt Drewette-Card, Sarah Clemons and Gwendolyn Thomas were absent.

The school board Thursday also elected members to its finance committee for 2015-16 with the exception of the Harpswell slot. Susan Brown will represent her town of Bowdoinham as chair of the committee. Kim Totten will represent Bowdoin;

Holly Kopp will represent Topsham and Joanne Rogers of Harpswell will serve as the at-large member.

The board also made committee assignments for the other various board committees.

It also agreed to move forward with a 15-year contract with Honeywell for energy saving projects in SAD 75. This third phase will identify additional improvements that can be made in all the schools, owing to further technological developments. The board supported the move at its June 25 meeting. Smith said there are a few last-minute pieces to iron out first but the board voted unanimously to move forward with the contract as long as those issues are addressed.

THE SCHOOL BOARD also elected members to its finance committee for 2015-16 with the exception of the Harpswell slot. Susan Brown will represent her town of Bowdoinham as chair of the committee. Kim Totten will represent Bowdoin; Holly Kopp will represent Topsham and Joanne Rogers of Harpswell will serve as the at-large member.